Electromagnetically driven high-speed elevated railway car system

ABSTRACT

An electromagnetically driven high-speed elevated railway system arrangement wherein the railway car is associated for guiding movement along a guide beam with the system arrangement including linear induction motor assemblies for driving the car and lifting magnet assemblies for spacing the car from the guide beam. The induction motor assemblies and lifting magnet assemblies each include a first part mounted on the guide beam and a second part mounted on the car for cooperation therebetween, the parts being positioned on the respective mounting structures such that the distance between each of the first and second cooperating parts of the motor assemblies and lifting assemblies increases upon failure of the lifting assemblies.

United States Patent 1191 Simon et al.

1111 3,882,788 1 51 May 13, 1975 [54] ELECTROMAGNETIC/ALLY DRIVEN707,032 5/l94l Germany H lO4/l48 MS HIGH-SPEED ELEVATED RAILWAY CARSYSTEM Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. [76} Inventors: MichaelSimon, Reginbaldstrasse 4. 41mm"! B Elsenzopf 8 Munichobermenzing; mmAttorney, Agenl, 0r Fmn-Cratg & Antonellt Rose, Kochstrasse ll. 85Nurnherg. b th fG 0 0 many 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1972 I h Anelectromagnetical y driven igh-speed elevated [2 Appl' 301394 railwaysystem arrangement wherein the railway car is associated for guidingmovement along a guide beam [30] Foreign A fi ti priority Data with thesystem arrangement including linear induc- Oct 29 I97] Germany 519,8tion motor assemblies for driving the car and lifting l magnetassemblies for spacing the car from the guide 52 us. (:1. 104/148 LM-l04/I48 MS beam The inducio assemb'ies and 51 1m. 01 Bfilb 13/08 magnetassemblies each dude [58] Field of Search |04H48 MS 148 LM 148 55 on theguide beam and a second part mounted on the car for cooperationtherebetween, the parts being po- [56] References Cited sitioned on therespective mounting structures such that the distance between each ofthe first and second UNITED STATES PATENTS cooperating parts of themotor assemblies and lifting M969 Benn" 104/[48 LM assemblies increasesupon failure of the lifting assem- 3.638,()93 H1972 Ross 1. l(l4/l48 MShues FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I 1,537,842 8/1968 France l04/l48MS Chums 5 D'awmg FIG 20 H6. 2b

PRIOR ART FIG. lb

PATENTEB MAY 1 31975 PRIOR ART FIG la FIG. 3

ELECTROMAGNETICALLY DRIVEN HIGH-SPEED ELEVATED RAILWAY CAR SYSTEM Thepresent invention relates to an elcctromagnet ically driven high-speedelevated railway car system having a linear induction motor andassociated with a guide beam for movement there-along.

In known electromagnetically guided and driven high-speed elevatedrailway cars, completely separated components are employed on thevehicle and on the guide beam for performing the driving and supportingfunction. In such railway car systems, the bottom sides of the steelrails of the guide beam attract lifting magnets on the vehicle bodyupward to produce the hover, and separate linear motors on the vehiclesurround the aluminum rails of the guide beam, the aluminum rails beingcompletely separated from the steel rails and being arranged eithervertically or horizontally.

The prior-art systems have a number of disadvantages, which result inparticular from maintaining the respective clearance between componentsgliding past one another, thereby forming a narrow gap, while cruising,starting up and switching off, with support of the vehicle beingprovided by means of mechanical emergency support elements in the eventthe lifting magnets fail, are not yet functioning or are no longerfunctioning. The narrow gap, on the one hand, and the necessity ofkeeping the linear motor free between the vehicle and the guide beam soas not to damage the motor on the other hand, necessitate extremelyrapid response ofthe mechanical emergency elements, which either cannotbe achieved or can only be achieved a complex structure.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anelectromagnetically driven high-speed elevated railway car systemarrangement which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art arrangementsand which eliminates the possibility of damage to the linear motors ifthe lifting magnets do not function, even without extremely rapidlyresponding emergency elements.

In accordance with the present invention, a railway car systemarrangement is provided wherein the lifting magnets, linear motors andcorresponding aluminum and steel reaction rails be arranged beneath aportion of the guide beam.

With the arrangement of the present invention. in the event of failureof the lifting magnets the gap between vehicle and guide beam increasesin such a manner that the linear motors are not subject to damage by thevehicle dropping onto the guide beam, even if the mechanical emergencysupport elements do not take over support of the vehicle with anextremely short response period. Thus, in other words. the presentinvention permits a certain shifting movement of the vehicle betweennon-acting ofthe lifting magnets and response of the mechanicalemergency support element. without the linear motors being damaged bysuch shifting.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGS. Ia and 1b are partial schematic cross sectional illustrations ofelectromagnetic railway car and guide beam arrangements in accordancewith the prior art;

FIGS. 2a and 2b are partial schematic cross sectional illustrations ofelectromagnetic railway car and guide beam arrangements in accordancewith the present invention wherein the railway car is mounted formovement above the guide beam; and

FIG. 3 is a side view partially in cross section of a railway car andguide beam arrangement in accordance with the present invention whereinthe car is mounted for movement below the guide beam.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designatelike parts throughout the several view. and more particularly to FIGS.la and 1b which show two examples of prior art vehicle and track systents of the type which can be provided with separate optimization ofthe main electromagnetic components, i.e., the driving and supportingsystems. As shown in FIG. la, the vehicle is designated by referencenumeral 3 and is guided for movement above and along a guide beam 5. Thevehicle is driven by linear motors I. 2 formed by driving magnets 2carried by the vehicle and cooperating with an aluminum reaction rail Imounted on the guide beam. The vehicle also carries lifting mag nets 4cooperating with a steel reaction rail 6a mounted on a support rail 6 ofthe guide beam and wherein the necessary lifting force is provided bythis arrangement. It can be seen that failure of the lifting magnets 4result in an emergency situation in which significant problems can occurif emergency supporting components (not shown) do not immediately becomeeffective, As illustrated in FIG. la, the linear motor 1, 2 ishorizontally disposed and has almost no vertical path of fall. That is,upon failure of the lifting magnets 4. there is essentially no time inwhich a mechanical emergency supporting system can be actuated in orderto support the vehicle 3 on the guide beam 5 without damaging ordestroying the lifting and driving system. The reason for this is thatthe support rail 6 of the guide beam 5 has an inwardly directed portionand the lifting magnet 4 of the vehicle are drawn upward in cooperationwith the steel reaction rail 6a arranged on the bottom part of thisinwardly directed portion, while the aluminum reaction rail 1 of thelinear motor I, 2 is disposed in the gap of the driving magnets 2 of thelinear motor at the top part of the support rail 6. If the liftingmagnets 4 fail and if the mechanical emergency supports do not actimmediately, the linear motor I, 2 will necessarily be damaged ordestroyed before such emergency supports can function.

In the arrangement of FIG. lb, the linear motor 1, 2 is verticallydisposed adjacent to the vertical support rail 6. As in the FIG. laarrangement, the steel reaction rail 60 is mounted on an inwardlydirected portion of the support rail 6 and the lifting magnets 4 arepositioned on the vehicle 3 vertically below the reaction rail. Asshown, the reaction rail 1 of aluminum for the linear motor extendsvertically upward from the guide beam 5 and is disposed in the verticalgap ofthe driving magnets 2 of the linear motor. Thus, if the liftingmagnets 4 fail and the emergency supports do not act immediatelythereafter, the driving magnets 2 carried by the vehicle will drop ontothe reaction rail I thereby damaging or destroying the linear motor. Asshown in FIGS. la and lb, lateral driving magnets 7 are arrangedvertically adjacent the faces of the inwardly directed portion of thesupport rail 6 or a corresponding steel reaction rail located thereat.In these arrangements, the bottom ends of the sides of the vehicle arecurved in ward to create space for the linear motors on both sides ofthe vehicle, which also results in unfavorable condi tions with respectto the emergency support system. On

the other hand. it is desired to have small gaps between the guide beamand the vehicle in order to keep the required supporting engery anddriving energy within reasonable limits since the energy requirementsincrease at a greater rate with an increase in size of the gap.

In accordance with the present invention, the disadvantages of the priorart system arrangements are overcome by the arrangements illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing. As shown in FIG. 2a. the vehicle 3 isarranged for movement above the guide beam 5 and the lateral guidingmagnets 7 are arranged on the vehicle opposite a canted bottom portionof the support rail 6 while the lifting magnets 4 and the drivingmagnets 2 of the linear motor are arranged in line one behind the otheropposite the bottom of the inwardly directed portion of the support rail6. The steel reaction rail 60 for the lifting magnets 4 and the aluminumreaction rail 1 for the linear motors are located one above the other onthe support rail of the guide beam. The arrangement of the liftingmagnets and the driving magnets on the vehicle 3 as well as thearrangement of the steel reaction rail and aluminum reaction rail on apart of the guide beam in the HO. 2 arrangements are similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement wherein thevehicle is positioned for movement below the guide beam rather thanmoving the guide beam as illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, alifting magnet 4 may be arranged between two driving magnets on thevehicle.

lt can thus be seen that in the arrangement of HO. 2, the failure of thelifting magnets 4 will result in that the distance between the vehicle 3and the bottom of the guide beam will increase and the distance betweenthe driving magnets 2 of the linear motor and the lifting magnets 4, onthe one hand and the reaction rails 1 and 60. on the other hand willincrease in such a manner that the driving magnets and the liftingmagnets will become free of the guide beam and a correspondinglyenlarged period of time will be provided for the emergency supportingsystem to become operational. As is known in the art. the emergencysupport system may be formed by support rollers 10 schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 2a or support skids ll schematically illustrated inFIG. 21).

As illustrated in FlG. 3. the steel reaction rail 60 is mounted on abottom portion of the guide beam 5, the vehicle being arranged formovement below the guide beam. The aluminum reaction rail 1 for thelinear motor is mounted on the steel reaction rail such that the steelreaction rail acts through the aluminum reaction rail for cooperationwith the lifting magnets 4. Due to the mounting arrangement of the railsl and 6a. which is similar to that of FIGS. and 2b. the lifting magnets4 and the driving magnets 2 can be arranged in line one behind the otheron the vehicle 3 with the magnets being positioned below the reactionrails. As illustrated. a lifting magnet 4 may be arranged between twodriving magnets on the vehicle. it can thus be seen that the structuralarrangement of the reaction rails on the guide beam and the cooperatingmagnets on the vehicle is such that when the lifting magnets 4 fail tofunction properly. the distance between the vehicle 3 and the bottom ofthe guide beam will increase and the distance between the magnets andthe cooperating reaction rails will increase such that the emergencysupports can operate and support the vehicle on the guide beam withoutfear of damage or destruction to the Iin ear motors or the liftingsystem.

While we have shown and described several arrangements in accordancewith the present invention. it is understood that the same is notlimited thereto but is susceptible to numerous changes and modificationsas are known to those skilled in the art. and we therefore do not wishto be limited to the details shown and described herein. but intend tocover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scopeof the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An electromagnetically driven high-speed elevated railway systemarrangement having a vehicle arranged for guiding movement along guidebeam means, comprising linear induction motor means including first andsecond cooperating parts and a separate lifting means including firstand second cooperating parts for spacing the vehicle from the guide beammeans. the first part of each of the motor means and lifting means beingmounted on the guide beam means, and the second part of each of themotor means and the lifting means being mounted on the vehicle and beingpositioned with respect to the respective cooperating first part suchthat the distance between each of the first and second cooperating partsof the motor means and lifting means increases upon failure of thelifting means. each of the second parts of the motor means and thelifting means being a magnet means, and the magnet means of the motormeans and the lifting means being positioned in line one behind theother in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

2. A system arrangement as defined in claim 1. wherein each of thesecond parts are mounted below the respective cooperating first partssuch that the vertical distance between each of the first and secondcooperating parts increases upon failure of the lifting means.

3. A system arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the firstparts of the motor means and lifting means is a reaction rail means.

4. A system arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein the reaction railmeans of the motor means is an aluminum reaction rail and the reactionrail means of the lifting means is a steel reaction rail.

5. A system arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein the steel andaluminum reaction rails extend in the longitudinal direction of theguide beam means.

6. A system arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein the magnet meansof the lifting means and the magnet means of the motor means arearranged in line one behind the other.

7. A system arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein the steelreaction rail is mounted on a bottom surface of a substantiallyhorizontally disposed portion of the guide beam means and the aluminumreaction rail is mounted on the steel reaction rail such that the steelreaction rail acts through the aluminum rail for cooperation with themagnet means of the lifting means.

8. A system arrangement as defined in claim 7. wherein the horizontallydisposed portion of the guide beam means is an inwardly directed portionof a support rail of the guide beam means. the vehicle being arrangedfor movement above the guide beam means.

9. A system arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein the vehicle isarranged for movement below the guide beam means and the magnet means ofthe motor means and the lifting means are arranged along an upperportion of the vehicle.

10. A system arrangement as defined in claim I. wherein a plurality ofseparate lifting means and separate motor means are provided,

11. A system arrangement as defined in claim I. wherein each of thefirst parts and each of the second parts are separate and individualmembers 12. A system arrangement as defined in claim ll, wherein each ofthe first parts of the motor means and the lifting means is a separatereaction rail and each of the magnet means of the motor means and thelifting means is a magnet cooperating with the respective reaction rail.

13. A system arrangement as defined in claim 12, wherein the reactionrail of the motor means is an aim minum reaction rail and the reactionrail of the lifting means is a steel reaction rail.

14. A system arrangement as defined in claim I}, wherein the steelreaction rail is mounted on a bottom surface oi a substantiallyhorizontally disposed portion of the guide heam means and the aluminumreaction rail is mounted on the steel reaction rail such that the steelreaction rail acts through the aluminum rail for cooperation with themagnet of the lifting means,

[5. A system arrangement as defined in claim l4, wherein the steel andaluminum reaction rails extend in the longitudinal direction of theguide heam means 16. A system arrangement as defined in claim l5.wherein the magnet of the lifting means and the magnet of the motormeans are arranged in line one behind the other and extend in thelongitudinal direction of the ve hicle.

1. An electromagnetically driven high-speed elevated railway systemarrangement having a vehicle arranged for guiding movement along guidebeam means, comprising linear induction motor means including first andsecond cooperating parts and a separate lifting means including firstand second cooperating parts for spacing the vehicle from the guide beammeans, the first part of each of the motor means and lifting means beingmounted on the guide beam means, and the second part of each of themotor means and the lifting means being mounted on the vehicle and beingpositioned with respect to the respective cooperating first part suchthat the distance between each of the first and second cooperating partsof the motor means and lifting means increases upon failure of thelifting means, each of the second parts of the motor means and thelifting means being a magnet means, and the magnet means of the motormeans and the lifting means being positioned in line one behind theother in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
 2. A systemarrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the second parts aremounted below the respective cooperating first parts such that thevertical distance between each of the first and second cooperating partsincreases upon failure of the lifting means.
 3. A system arrangement asdefined in claim 1, wherein each of the first parts of the motor meansand lifting means is a reaction rail means.
 4. A system arrangement asdefined in claim 3, wherein the reaction rail means of the motor meansis an aluminum reaction rail and the reaction rail means of the liftingmeans is a steel reaction rail.
 5. A system arrangement as defined inclaim 4, wherein the steel and aluminum reaction rails extend in thelongitudinal direction of the guide beam means.
 6. A system arrangementas defined in claim 5, wherein the magnet means of the lifting means andthe magnet means of the motor means are arranged in line one behind theother.
 7. A system arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein the steelreaction rail is mounted on a bottom surface of a substantiallyhorizontally disposed portion of the guide beam means and the aluminumreaction rail is mounted on the steel reaction rail such that the steelreaction rail acts through the aluminum rail for cooperation with themagnet means of the lifting means.
 8. A system arrangement as defined inclaim 7, wherein the horizontally disposed portion of the guide beammeans is an inwardly directed portion of a support rail of the guidebeam means, the vehicle being arranged for movement above the guide beammeans.
 9. A system arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein thevehicle is arranged for movement below the guide beam means and themagnet means of the motor means and the lifting means are arranged alongan upper portion of the vehicle.
 10. A system arrangement as defined inclaim 1, wherein a plurality of separate lifting means and separatemotor means are provided.
 11. A system arrangement as defined in claim1, wherein each of the first parts and each of the second parts areseparate and individual members.
 12. A system arrangement as defined inclaim 11, wherein each of the first parts of the motor means and thelifting means is a separate reaction rail and each of the magnet meansof the motor means and the lifting means is a magnet cooperating withthe respective reaction rail.
 13. A system arrangement as defined inclaim 12, wherein the reaction rail of the motor means is an aluminumreaction rail and the reaction rail of the Lifting means is a steelreaction rail.
 14. A system arrangement as defined in claim 13, whereinthe steel reaction rail is mounted on a bottom surface of asubstantially horizontally disposed portion of the guide beam means andthe aluminum reaction rail is mounted on the steel reaction rail suchthat the steel reaction rail acts through the aluminum rail forcooperation with the magnet of the lifting means.
 15. A systemarrangement as defined in claim 14, wherein the steel and aluminumreaction rails extend in the longitudinal direction of the guide beammeans.
 16. A system arrangement as defined in claim 15, wherein themagnet of the lifting means and the magnet of the motor means arearranged in line one behind the other and extend in the longitudinaldirection of the vehicle.